macOS where to save downloaded executable?

[softtouch 9]

My application needs to download additional executable files (call it addons). They need to be executed after installation from the main app. Where would I need to save them after downloading them in order to be able to execute them? Is there any recommended folder? Can I save them im my user folder and execute them there?

[corneliusdavid 213]

You should be able to download and execute them wherever you can write to files--a data directory under a user folder is just fine. Executable files are not restricted to running only from special "Program Files" type of folder.

 

The only caveat is that an anti-virus program may catch it and block saving/launching it if it's not signed and/or well-known.

[Sherlock 663]

And the OS may interject as well, asking the user to verify that it may execute this downloaded file.

[softtouch 9]

4 minutes ago, Sherlock said:

And the OS may interject as well, asking the user to verify that it may execute this downloaded file.

That would be ok, I was just worried that i cant just save them where I like to. I will then just save them into a folder inside the user folder and execute them there.

[Fr0sT.Brutal 899]

I think you should refer to OS guidelines. Things are never simple when you deal with anything Apple made

[Incus J 10]

On 6/3/2022 at 10:57 AM, softtouch said:

I will then just save them into a folder inside the user folder and execute them there.

In macOS there is a folder:

Users/(User Name)/Library/Application Support/(App Name)/

It seems to be a recognised spot for storing config, preferences, cache data, sqlite files.  I don't know whether that's a good place for an addon executable, but might be worth a look if you don't want your folder to be too obviously user visible.

 

There's a stack overflow post looking at this from a user config point of view:

Where do OSX applications typically store user configuration data?

 

Edited June 14, 2022 by Incus J